Clothesline tightener



Aug. 19, 1924. 1,505,455'

F. B. WILLIAMS CLOTHESLINE TIGHTENER Filed Apg. 2O. 1921 JEZ.

Patented Aug I9, i924.

rml@ a WILLLAMS, VelGfF-FILAND lumbre enornnstrnn `frrerr'1r-:situa'.'

Application led'Augfust 20, '1.921. Serial 10,493,815

To all 'whom tm/ay cof/wem.'

Be it known that I, FRED B. WILLIAMS, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Highland Park, in the county of Lake and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Clothesline Tightener; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the saine, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the numerals of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to clothes poles such as are used to support the line upon which clothes are hung for drying. It relates more particularly to a device to be used with such -poles to tighten the clothes line.

It is an object of this invention to provide a means whereby a person can without the exertion of any great degree of strength secure a high degree of tautness in the clothes line. f

It is a further object of this invention to provide an attachment for a clothes ,pole whereby it may be used to tighten the clothes line and also may be fastened to the line.

Other and further important objects of this invention will be apparent from the disclosures in the drawings and specification.

The invention (in a preferred form) is illustrated in the ydrawings and hereinafter more fully described.

On the drawings:

Figure 1 is a view of a clothes line with my invention in use therewith.

Figure 2 is a front view of the end of a pole showing my invention applied thereto.

Figure 3 is a side view of the same.

Figure 4 is a top view of the same.

Figure 5 is a front view of a modification.

Figure 6 is a top view of the same.

As shown on the drawings:

The clothes line 1 is secured at the ends in any desired manner; as illustrated, this is by being fastened to post 2. It is supportedy at intermediate points by a number of poles 3. Each pole has a fixture secured to the top thereof. Preferably, this is by supplying the xture with a plate 4; which is fastened to the pole by screws 5. At the top of the pole the plate has a shoulder 6 which bears against theend of the pole and affords a support with which the projections 7 are integral.

In the form illustrated in Figures 2 to 4i, there are 'two of these projections. Each ofv them has a cylindrical body and an enlargement .or head 8 at the .upper end thereof. In the form illustrated in Figures 5 and, there are three of thesel projections. The middleone 9 is straight, but the other two 10 are curved to obtain lthe desired space *be-y tween them. All three have enlargements or heads at their upper ends.

In the use of the form shown in Figure 2, the pole is first placed under the line with the projections `7, one on each side of it. The pole is then rotated about its longitudinal axis and the portion of the line at r the top of the pole is thus bent into an S- shape. The pole is then tilted to right or left in Figure 1 until theend 8 of one of the projections 7 is below the line. The pole may thenberotated in the same direction as before until the lower projection 7 passes beyond the line. The pole is then returned to position at substantially right angles to the line.

This operation results in the line 1 having a portion'12 which passes across the same face of both projections 7, a portion 13 which passes around one of these portions, a portion 14 which passes diagonally between the projections, a portionl which passes around the other of the projections, a portion 16 which passes diagonally between the projections and goes across and above the portion lll, and finally af portion 17 which passes one of the projections above and Von the saine side as 12. The above operation has the effect oftightening the line and locking the fixture in position relative thereto, obviating the possibility of its displacement therefrom. f f

It will be observed that as the line is tightened, the pressure of the portion 17 against its projection tends to rotate the pole in one way and the pressure of the portion 12 against the other projection tends to rotate the pole the other way. Consequently, there is no resultant tendency for the pole to rotate.

With the form illustrated in Figures 5 and 6, there are many ways that the device may beinterlocked with the clothes line but the way' illustrated is as convenient as any. This shows the clothes line coiled about the middle' projection 9 at 18 and with portion at 19 and 20 passing the same side of the MET OFFic.

two projections 10. t is'obvious that the pressure of 19 against its projection l0 as the line is tightened tends to rotate the pole in one direction and the pressure of 2O against its projection l() tends to rotate the pole in the opposite direction. Consequently, there will be no resulting tendency of the pole to rotate.`

I am aware that numerous details of construction may be varied through a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention7 and I therefore do not purpose limiting the patent granted otherwise than necessitated by the prior art.

I claim as my invention: j

A clothes pole,y a iiXture secured to the end thereof, said fixture having a main body and three projections extendingside by side in the general direction of the length of the pole, the central one ofsa-id projections being straight and longer than the others, the outer ones of said projections 'being straight throughout a portion of their length but being curved toward the center projection at their junction with the main body of the fixture, each of said projections having an enlargementat its end whereby a clothes line will not slip over the end of the projection.

ln testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence ot two subscribing witnesses. l

FRED B. WlLLIAMS.

`Witnesses:

CARLTON HILL, f JAMES M. OBRIEN. 

